CONTROL GATES AND VALVES

• US 20150191884A1
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rubicon Research Pvt. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rubicon Research Pvt. Ltd.
• Inventors: Aughton, David John
• Granted Patent: US 9,376,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 13/02 Closures for irrigation conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 5/08 Details, e.g. gates, screens
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 7/40 Swinging or turning gates
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 8/04 Valves, slides, or the like; Arrangements therefor; Submerged sluice gates
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 11/00 Hoses, i.e. flexible pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/662 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/667 Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/005 Valves valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7882 Having exit lip

Abstract

The invention discloses an overshot control gate for use with trapezoidal irrigation channels. A gate has a rigid rectangular section adapted to, in use, be pivotally mounted to a base of a trapezoidal irrigation channel. A pair of triangular sections are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the rigid rectangular section. Each of the triangular sections are divided into first and second triangular sections with a common apex at the base of the trapezoidal irrigation channel. Each of the first triangular sections are rigid and adapted to, in use, be pivotally mounted to opposite side walls of the trapezoidal irrigation channel. Each of the second triangular sections including the pivotal mounting on opposite sides of the rigid rectangular section are formed of a flexible material. Also disclosed is a pipe flow meter and a duckbill valve.

Claims

1. An overshot control gate for use with a trapezoidal irrigation channel, said gate having a rigid rectangular section adapted to, in use, be pivotally mounted to a base of said trapezoidal irrigation channel, a pair of triangular sections pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said rigid rectangular section, each of said triangular sections being divided into first and second triangular sections with a common apex at said base of said trapezoidal irrigation channel, each of said first triangular sections being rigid and adapted to, in use, be pivotally mounted to opposite side walls of said trapezoidal irrigation channel, and each of said second triangular sections including said pivotal mounting on said opposite sides of said rigid rectangular section and being formed of a flexible material.

2. The overshot control gate of claim 1, wherein a surface area of said second triangular sections is substantially smaller than a surface area of said first triangular sections.

3. The overshot control gate of claim 1, wherein, in a fully open position of said overshot control gate, said rigid rectangular section lies flat on said base of said trapezoidal irrigation channel and said triangular sections lie flat on respective side walls of said trapezoidal irrigation channel.

4. The overshot control gate of claim 1, wherein said rigid rectangular section is raised and lowered by an actuation means attached to a side opposite to its pivotally mounting to said base of said trapezoidal irrigation channel.

5. A pipe flow meter including a pipe section through which liquid flows, said pipe section at one end adapted to be connected to a pipe containing said liquid, said pipe section having at least one pair of flow sensors for detecting flow rate of said liquid through said pipe section, said at least one pair of flow sensors being located on at least one substantially horizontal plane, and a duckbill valve at the other end of said pipe section adjacent to said at least one pair of flow sensors, said duckbill valve having its opening oriented on a substantially vertical plane.

6. The pipe flow meter of claim 5, wherein said at least one pair of flow sensors contains a pair of flow sensors on said at least one substantially horizontal plane with the pair of flow sensors being on opposing sides of said pipe section in a diagonal configuration.

7. The pipe flow meter of claim 5, wherein said at least one pair of flow sensors contains two pairs of flow sensors on at least one substantially horizontal plane with each pair of flow sensors being on opposing sides of said pipe section in a diagonal configuration.

8. The pipe flow meter of claim 5, wherein said at least one pair of flow sensors contains two pairs of flow sensors on a pair of substantially horizontal planes with each pair of flow sensors being on opposing sides of said pipe section in a diagonal configuration.

12. The pipe flow meter of claim 5, wherein said duckbill valve includes a sleeve of flexible material having at one end a wide opening adapted to, in use, be coupled to a source of liquid to be controlled and said sleeve tapering to a narrow linear mouth forming a normally closed opening at the other end through which liquid can exit from the valve, a frame adapted to be coupled to said valve, said frame being external to said sleeve and having a ring adapted to co-operate with said wide opening of said sleeve and a set of four struts equispaced around and pivotally attached to said ring at one end of respective struts, said struts being pivotally attached at the other end of respective struts to respective mounting points located midway and at opposing ends of said narrow linear mouth to prevent collapsing of said sleeve.

9. A duckbill valve including a sleeve of flexible material having at one end a wide opening adapted to, in use, be coupled to a source of liquid to be controlled and said sleeve tapering to a narrow linear mouth forming a normally closed opening at the other end through which liquid can exit from the valve, a first frame adapted to be coupled to said valve, said frame being external to said sleeve and having a ring adapted to co-operate with said wide opening of said sleeve and a set of four struts equispaced around and pivotally attached to said ring at one end of respective struts, said struts being pivotally attached at the other end of respective struts to respective mounting points located midway and at opposing ends of said narrow linear mouth to prevent collapsing of said sleeve.

10. The duckbill valve of claim 9, further including a second frame having four further struts in a scissor jack arrangement pivotally attached to further mounting points on said second frame.

11. The duckbill valve of claim 9, further including an actuator adapted to be coupled to one of said four struts, whereby movement of said actuator allows opening and closing of said duckbill valve.

13. A flexible pipe valve for controlling low pressure hydraulic networks, said valve including a flexible pipe member adapted to, in use, be connected to an entry or exit end of a pipe through which liquid is to flow, said valve having a lifting ring at its end opposite the connection to the entry or exit end of said pipe, said lifting ring being coupled to an actuator for raising and lowering said flexible pipe member above a surface level or static head of said liquid.

14. The flexible pipe valve of claim 13, further including a coupling ring adapted to be coupled to said entry or exit end of said pipe and a plurality of struts pivotally attached between said lifting ring and said coupling ring to provide support for said flexible pipe member whilst being raised and lowered.

15. The flexible pipe valve of claim 14, wherein said flexible pipe member includes a plurality of annular rings along its length to provide support for said flexible pipe member whilst being raised and lowered.

16. The flexible pipe valve of claim 14, wherein said lifting ring has a U- or C-shaped member pivotally attached to said lifting ring and said actuator is pivotally attached to said U- or C-shaped member.

17. The flexible pipe valve of claim 14, wherein said lifting ring is cylindrically shaped.

18. The flexible pipe valve of claim 13, further including a coupling ring adapted to be coupled to said entry or exit end of said pipe and a plurality of struts pivotally attached between said lifting ring and members on said coupling ring providing a vertical offset for the pivot attachment to provide support for said flexible pipe member whilst being raised and lowered.

19. A duckbill valve including a sleeve of flexible material having at one end a wide opening adapted to, in use, be coupled to a source of liquid to be controlled and said sleeve tapering to a narrow linear mouth forming a normally closed opening at the other end through which liquid can exit from the valve, a first frame adapted to be coupled to said valve, said frame being external to said sleeve and having a ring adapted to co-operate with said wide opening of said sleeve and a pair of struts pivotally attached to said ring at one end of respective struts, said struts being pivotally attached at the other end of respective struts to respective mounting points located midway and on opposite sides of said narrow linear mouth to prevent collapsing of said sleeve.

20. The duckbill valve of claim 19, wherein a plurality of pairs of struts are provided pivotally attached to mounting points on said narrow linear mouth and to said ring.